Gardaí had to be called to Mullingar Hospital when a man seeking treatment for a drug overdose began assaulting a security guard, Mullingar District Court has heard.
Gardaí were called when Stephen Bowling of 24 Market Hill, Ballymore became aggressive and abusive and staff were unable to calm him down.
When they arrived, he had his hands around the throat of the security guard and he was removed to the Garda station.
However, hospital staff phoned to have him returned because they were concerned for his safety and gardaí had to remain with him at the hospital for a number of hours before he was released into his fiancée’s care.
The incident happened at 6.30am on August 1 last year but the court heard he had received an adult caution for a similar offence only a couple of months before that.
Mr Bowling pleaded guilty to assault, threatening behaviour and obstruction, but his solicitor presented the court with a detailed, 19 page psychiatric report which indicated that he suffered with ADHD, an autistic spectrum disorder and dyslexia which caused issues in his life.
Ms Cronin said her client couldn’t recall the incident and was shocked when gardaí arrived at his house the next day.
He couldn’t recall what happened but accepted the Garda version of events.
She said he does act out if someone approaches him or lays a hand on him and that may have been the issue with the security guard.
While he had taken alcohol on the night, he hadn’t drunk since and accepts that drink does not agree with him.
He accepts that the hospital “is not a place to get involved in incidents of this nature” she said, but asked the court to consider a probation report.
Judge David Anderson adjourned the case to July 23 for a probation report, advising that the Probation Service see a copy of the psychiatric report presented to the court.
